At 2.39 pm this afternoon (Rwanda time), Hon Musa Sirma, the new Minister for the East African Community in the Republic of Kenya was sworn in as an ex-officio Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
Hon Sirma took the Oath before an attentive House in the Parliament of Rwanda during the EALA session, swearing to deliver timely and solemn service and to preserve and protect the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC. The Oath was administered by the Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon. Abdirahin H. Abdi.
Under Rule 6 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, no Member can sit or vote in the Assembly before taking the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to the Treaty. The Speaker administers the Oath or Affirmation for allegiance to the Members.
The Minister who replaced Hon. Prof. Hellen Sambili as the new EAC Minister in the recent mini-reshuffle of the cabinet in Kenya, was escorted to take the Oath by Members, Hon Augustine C.L. Lotodo and Hon Patricia Hajabakiga.
EALA has nine Members elected from each Partner State and seven ex-officio Members making a total of 52 Members. The ex-officio Members are the Ministers responsible for East African Community Affairs in the Partner States, the Secretary General and the Counsel to the Community.
ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS ABOUT EALA
The East African Legislative Assembly is the legislative organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 52, of whom 45 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and seven ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).
The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters. The enactment of legislation of the Community is effected by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States.
EALA in June 2010 launched its Strategic Plan and Website at its 5th Meeting of the third Session held in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya respectively. The Strategic Plan is expected to go a long way to firmly entrench the EALA as the epitome of the Community’s democracy and unity. The EALA website www.eala.org provides the Assembly with the means to communicate actively with the citizens of East Africa and beyond and enhances public understanding of the legislature’s role and responsibilities.
For more information, contact
Bobi Odiko
Senior Public Relations Officer, East African Legislative Assembly
Tel: +255-27-2508240, Fax: +255-27-2503103
Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036
Email: BOdiko@eachq.org, Web: https://www.eala.org
Bobi Odiko
Senior Public Relations Officer, East African Legislative Assembly
Tel: +255-27-2508240, Fax: +255-27-2503103
Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036
Email: BOdiko@eachq.org, Web: https://www.eala.org
